CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Cholesterol test
- Test results reviewed by leading experts within 48 hours
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- 99% of cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family
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CHOLESTEROL TEST AT HCA UK
Why choose us for your cholesterol test?
More people trust us for cardiac care than any other private provider. We look after over 36,000 patients each year and 99% of them would recommend us to their friends and family.
That means your cholesterol test will be in expert hands and you’ll be cared for by one of our specialist nurses or phlebotomists. We’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours and have your test results back within two days. We’ll also give you prompt personalised advice for lowering your cholesterol, should you need it.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood. If your levels are too high, it can block your arteries and can lead to heart complications, strokes and other health problems. A cholesterol test will identify the makeup of the cholesterol in your system. This will consist of:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: Often known as ‘bad’ cholesterol and what causes the build-up of fat in your vessels, reducing the flow of blood around the body
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: Also known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps to remove LDL cholesterol and improves the flow of blood
- Total cholesterol: This is your LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol combined
- Triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood that can build up when your body converts the calories it doesn't need. These excess calories can come from having a poor diet, drinking too much, smoking and not exercising
A cholesterol test, also known as a lipid profile, is a simple test to check the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. These are a good indication of whether you have, or are at risk of developing, heart disease, and a way for your consultant to look for signs of other cardiac conditions. We might also recommended this as part a wider range of cardiac tests, depending on your specific circumstances.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood and if your levels are too high, it can block your arteries, cause heart complications and lead to other serious conditions. It’s important to test for cholesterol because there are usually no symptoms.
You’re more likely to have high cholesterol if you:
- Are over 40 years of age
- Are overweight
- Have a history of heart conditions in your family
- Have high blood pressure or other conditions such as diabetes
You may also have a history of high cholesterol in your family. This is known as familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). If you have FH, there may be some visible symptoms such as:
- A pale white ring around your iris (the coloured part of your eye)
- Small, yellow lumps in the corner of your eye, closest to your nose
- Swellings on your knuckles, your knees or your Achilles tendon
If any of the above apply to you, or even if they don't, you may wish to have a cholesterol blood test to give you peace of mind. We can offer private tests with one of our specialist nurses or phlebotomists, who are medical professionals trained to take blood samples. You can also access a test by booking a private GP appointment.
We’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours of you contacting us and have your results ready within 48 hours.
Having high cholesterol means there’s a build-up of fat in your blood vessels. You can control some of the factors that cause it, but others are not within your control. For example, high cholesterol could be caused by:
- Age, with over 40s likely to have higher cholesterol levels
- Gender, with men at a greater risk
- Ethnicity, with a greater prevalence in people with a south Asian background
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating fatty foods
- A lack of exercise
There may also be other risk factors that can make you more likely to have high cholesterol. For example, you may want to book a cholesterol blood test if you have:
- A family history of high cholesterol or other heart conditions
- Diabetes with elevated blood sugar levels
- Problems with your kidney or liver. Part of these organs' functions include producing, handling and clearing cholesterol.
If you have worries or questions about these factors, our specialists can help you understand and effectively manage your risk.
Rapid access to tests and scans
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis in as little as 24 hours.
State-of-the-art facilities
Access innovative treatment options.
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Visit any of our 15 dedicated diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Locations
You can access private cholesterol testing in locations across London, Birmingham and Manchester. Rest assured, you'll receive exceptional care at all our locations.
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
YOUR PATIENT JOURNEY
Your cholesterol test with HCA UK
From your initial cholesterol check to delivering your results and providing any effective care you may need, you'll be in safe hands. We have hundreds of nurses, phlebotomists, general practitioners and cardiologists across our network.
We’re here to help you and are always available to talk about your options, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect from the test process.
01
Before your cholesterol test
Your doctor or nurse will let you know if there’s anything specific you need to do to prepare for your cholesterol test. This may include fasting or avoiding certain foods or medications before your test.
They’ll also explain the test to you and answer any questions you may have. You should let them know if you are taking any blood-thinning medication or if you have a condition that makes you more likely to bruise or bleed.
Having a blood sample is a common and safe procedure but it's normal to feel a little anxious. You're welcome to bring a friend or relative with you to your appointment.
02
The cholesterol test itself
Your cholesterol test will involve analysing a small sample of your blood. This is usually taken from a vein in your arm, but it can sometimes be done from a tiny pinprick in your finger too.
This may form part of a more comprehensive blood test. Collecting the blood sample should only take a few minutes and your nurse or phlebotomist will explain the procedure to you.
If you're concerned about fainting or have worries about needles, you may be able to have a blood sample taken while you're lying down. If the procedure has made you feel light-headed, you'll be invited to remain in the department until you feel fully recovered.
You may have some discomfort, redness or bruising in your arm or fingertip after your test, but this shouldn't last long.
03
Next steps
Your test results will usually be available within a couple of days and your doctor will explain what the different types of cholesterol measured are and what your levels mean.
Depending on your results, they may recommend diet, medication or lifestyle changes to help you lower your cholesterol over time. These measures can be very effective but they are not guaranteed to work, as your high cholesterol may be caused by factors outside your control.
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Cholesterol test FAQs
A cholesterol test is a simple procedure and one that we carry out thousands of times each year. You may have some soreness around your arm or finger where the blood was drawn but this will soon disappear. It's also possible for the area where the blood is taken to become infected, but this is extremely rare.
If you do have any concerns, your expert nurse or phlebotomist will be able to put your mind at rest.
Your cholesterol is measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Everyone’s different and so is their level of risk, but here’s a guide as to what is typically classed as a normal, healthy cholesterol level:
- Total cholesterol: 5mmol/L or under
- LDL cholesterol: 4mmol/L or under
- HDL cholesterol: 1mmol/L or above
- Non-fasting triglycerides: 2.3mmol/L or under
- Fasting triglycerides: 1.7mmol/L or under
- Ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol: 6mmol/L or under
Fasting triglycerides are measured when you've been asked not to eat for a few hours before your test. Non-fasting triglycerides are measured when you've eaten as normal.
When you get the results back from your private cholesterol test, your consultant will explain what they mean and recommend the most suitable and effective treatment, should any be needed.
While there are some factors associated with higher cholesterol that you can't control, such as your age, ethnicity and your gender at birth, there are plenty of things that you can do to help lower your levels if they’re above normal. These include:
- Eating fewer fatty foods such as butter, pies, sausages, hard cheese, cakes and biscuits
- Eating more foods like oily fish, wholegrain pasta, brown rice, fruit and vegetables
- Getting two to three hours' exercise per week – for example, walking, jogging, cycling or swimming
- Giving up smoking
- Drinking less alcohol, including cutting out binge drinking
Yes. If your cholesterol check shows that you have high levels that could put you at risk of heart disease or a stroke, your consultant may recommend medication. The most common are statins. These are tablets that you take once a day to limit the amount of cholesterol that your body produces. In most cases, you’ll need to take statins for the rest of your life.
If statins don’t work, or you don’t wish to take them for any reason, there are other tablets you can take such as fibrates, resins and ezetimibe. There are also injections such as alirocumab, evolocumab and inclisiran. Your consultant will discuss the best options based on your individual test results and medical history, helping you to make a good, well-informed decision.
You have several payment options for your private cholesterol test. If you have medical insurance, it's worth speaking to your provider to see if you’re covered. As the leader in private cardiac care, you can mention HCA UK as your preferred provider, along with your preferred consultant if you have one.
Alternatively, you may have corporate or government sponsorship, or you can self-fund the cost of your tests and any subsequent treatment.
Depending on your condition, medical history and test results, following your cholesterol test you may be recommended further tests to help understand your risk, such as:
- Lipoprotein (a): An LDL variant that’s stickier than others, increasing the risk of blockages and blood clots
- Apolipoprotein B (Apo B): A substance that carries LDL in your blood
- Familial hyperlipidaemia DNA genetic testing: Checking for a genetic condition that means your liver can’t process cholesterol properly
- Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: A type of LDL that contains more triglycerides than regular LDL. In excess, both can cause build-ups in your arteries
When you book a test with us, your consultant will explain these factors in detail to help you understand your cholesterol profile.
If you're worried about having high cholesterol or simply want to get checked out, we can provide private cholesterol tests at our leading hospitals and clinics across the UK.
We treat more than 36,000 cardiac patients every year and will confirm your appointment within 24 hours of first contact. Once you’ve had your cholesterol check, we'll send your results inside 48 hours.
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